1845.] OF HAMPSHIRE. 127 



the nature of the ladies, and make fox-hunters 

 of them, yet they patronise no less than five 

 balls in the year; Mr. Villebois al- Hunt bails. 

 ways being appointed the steward of the first. 

 These, we are certain, cover a multitude of 

 sins, and would prove, if proof were wanting, 

 that fox-hunting and gallantry are inseparable 

 from each other. In the month of April, 

 also, there is more sport for the ladies — the 

 Cup being run for at Winchester — when the 

 club dine together, and the evening is con- 

 cluded by a ball. 



" By a list before me, Mr. Villebois' kennel 

 consists of seventy couples of hunting-hounds ; 

 and his usual entry is from twenty-two to 

 twenty-four couples. He divides them into 

 two packs — one called the large, and the other 

 the small pack ; the average height of the first 

 being from twenty-two inches and a half to 

 twenty-four and a half; and of the other, 

 from twenty to twenty -two, and this division 

 of the kennel makes them very even to the 

 eye. As may be supposed, there are rather 

 more bitches than dog-hounds in the small 

 pack, though, if my recollection serves me, 

 there are nine or ten couples of the latter. 



" Your readers cannot forget the unpa- 

 ralleled instance that occurred two years back, 



